Chesapeake scores with first half of 'Cajun Chalk' well. (Chesapeake Energy Corp.; Austin Chalk well in Louisiana)

With the significant completion of one horizontal leg of a deep, dual-lateral Austin Chalk well in Louisiana last week, Chesapeake Energy Corp. has provided even more proof that the eastward extension of the Chalk into that area ultimately may exceed its downdip emergence in Texas.

Chesapeake and a number of other companies drilling in the Masters Creek-Leesville area of Rapides and Vernon parishes near Louisiana's border with Texas - including Union Pacific Resources, Occidental Petroleum Co., and Sonat Resources Inc., among others - have established prolific Austin Chalk oil and gas production with horizontal wells. Both Chesapeake and UPR are developing the Texas Chalk …